Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
DNR, partners to launch second moose capture in UP
By ANDY HENION
Communications representative, Wildlife Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan wildlife researchers are preparing to conduct the second phase of a collaborative study that aims to figure out why the Upper Peninsula moose population remains stubbornly stagnant.This month, researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Northern Michigan University plan to capture up to 43 moose from the animals’ core range in the western U.P. and outfit them with GPS tracking collars. In the project’s first phase, in early 2025, 20 moose were captured and collared.Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail. Read more
The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has released a statement on the following legislation passed for exterminating mule deer on Catalina Island in California:
The Mule Deer Foundation is aware that mule deer were introduced to Catalina Island in the 1920s and are not historically native. However, their long presence has made them a valued part of the landscape to many Californians for ecotourism and recreation. As mule deer across the West and California have been in decline for more than 60 years, it is disappointing to see deer entirely removed from yet another location rather than being managed at sustainable levels. Science shows that some grazing can be compatible with healthy ecosystems, and experts have raised concerns that complete removal could unintentionally increase wildfire risk by allowing fine fuels to accumulate. The Mule Deer Foundation (muledeer.org) stands ready to help develop science-based management frameworks for Catalina Island that reduce impacts while maintaining a controlled deer presence consistent with public values.
Greg Sheehan
President/CEO
Mule Deer Foundation Read more
Calling all birders: the DNR’s third annual Camp Warbler is set for June 1-3, and registration is underway.
This two-night, three-day adventure, designed for adults and featuring presentations and guided birding activities, takes place at the DNR’s Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, or RAM Center, near Roscommon. Camp Warbler is an all-inclusive event, providing lodging as well as five meals and motor coach transportation from Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
“This getaway is perfect for individuals or couples seeking to enjoy the best parts of Michigan and meet new friends,” said Melissa Guigue, manager of the RAM Center, which offers a unique blend of rustic lodging and modern meeting facilities on the northern shore of Higgins Lake. “You’ll enjoy a stay where the options for outdoor fun are endless.”
Participants will be treated to presentations and activities led by interpreters and staff from state parks and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, the latter of which gives visitors a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of Detroit. Camp Warbler activities include:
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a?lighthouse?keeper, we’ve got a dream destination! Grab three friends and apply to the 2026 Lighthouse Keeper Program?at?Tawas Point Lighthouse, located?in?Tawas Point State Park (about 75 miles northeast of Saginaw). Opportunities are available from early May through late October.
This program is perfect for enthusiasts of history, lighthouses or Michigan (or a combination of all three). Enjoy a two-week stay along the beautiful Lake Huron shoreline, immersed in the history of Tawas Point.
Equipped with training and knowledge from the lighthouse’s historian, keepers serve as guides, greeting visitors and leading tours. Keepers also are responsible for basic facility maintenance and cleanliness. The total service commitment is about 30 hours each week. The keeper schedule includes plenty of free time to explore the state park, nearby communities and surrounding area.
“We get up, we take a great bike ride, we swim and then we’re here for about five hours with the tours,” said Heidi, a 2025 Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper. “The people here are spectacular. We’ve met people from different countries, from different parts of Michigan, and they’re all interested in lighthouses, just like we are – so it has been a terrific experience. We really appreciate the opportunity!”
 The lighthouse might be nearly 150 years old, but the living quarters feature modern accommodations. The second floor includes two bedrooms that can sleep four adults, a fully equipped kitchen and a full bathroom. Free on-site parking is also provided.
Keepers apply in teams of four; the cost is $250 per person. All team members must be at least 18 years old and able to climb the 85 steps to the top of the tower. Applications are due by 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. There is a $10 nonrefundable application fee. Successful applicants will be notified no later than March 31. Learn more at the?Michigan History Center’s?Lighthouse Keepers webpage?or email?DNR-TawasKeepers@Michigan.gov. |
Hunter, Biologist, and Whitetail guru Larry Weishuhn joins Michael Waddell on the latest episode of The Michael Waddell Podcast, presented by Spandau Arms and in partnership with Folds of Honor, Cigars International and The Texas Trophy Hunters Association. The two old friends sit down and remember the good times they’ve shared in the field together and discuss Larry’s six decades in the business – mostly focused on whitetail deer – for which he’s affectionately known as “Mr. Whitetail.” Educated in wildlife science at what is now Texas A&M’s prestigious school of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management, the native Texan has spent a lifetime in the field and has some very interesting things to say about some of the biggest concerns that deer and deer hunters face today.
The Michael Waddell Podcast is produced by Outdoor Sportsman Group and is available widely on Outdoor Channel YouTube, MyOutdoorTV, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and OutdoorChannel.com, to name a few.
In this episode, Larry Weishuhn talks about how he got his start as a biologist and wildlife manager, detailing his early experiences working statewide in Texas on their multi-species “wildlife disease project,” and later as a technical assistance biologist setting up management programs for ranchers and hunters throughout South Texas. Read more
Program budget, maximum and minimum grant requests have increased
The application period for the Upper Peninsula’s Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative competitive grant program is now open.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources initiative is a cooperative grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on private lands in the U.P.
New for 2026 the total DHIPI program budget has increased to $200,000. The maximum and minimum grant requests have also increased respecively to a maximum of $25,000 and a minimum of $5,000. The required match remains at 25%. Read more
A bald eagle midwinter citizen survey counted 715 bald eagles thanks to 391 separate reports from Jan. 7-21 in the Buckeye State, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Ohioans reported 715 bald eagles, like this immature bald eagle, during a January count.
With the United States’ 250th anniversary year underway in 2026, the Division of Wildlife requested the public’s help in a midwinter survey to count the national bird. Over 15 days, the agency received observations of 592 adult and 123 immature eagles. Read more
GW: Not against protecting bats, because they are so adept at eliminating mosquitos. I even installed a bat house near a place on my house where they were getting in. After they migrated for the season, I got some spray foam and blocked the entrance. Problem solved, although they’ve yet to use the bat house.
By AILEEN KEMME
Communications coordinator, Marketing and Outreach Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Jutting out into Lake Superior is the Keweenaw Peninsula, home to Michigan’s Copper Country.
This is where the earliest known metalworking in North America originated, with objects crafted by Indigenous peoples from Keweenaw copper becoming so prized that they have been discovered in archaeological sites throughout North America.
European settlers also established mining operations in the same region and made Michigan into the world’s leading copper producer by the early 20th century.
While virtually all the mining operations in the area have shuttered since then, the mines are not empty. The Keweenaw region is home to seven of Michigan’s nine bat species, with many of the bats calling the abandoned mines home.
Three of the Keweenaw’s bat species migrate south for the winter, with some, like the hoary bat, traveling as far as Central America before returning to their spring and summertime breeding grounds in North America.
The remaining four species spend their winters hibernating deep within caves and abandoned mine shafts throughout the region. Read more
By KATIE GERVASI
Communications specialist, Law Enforcement Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
When most people envision spending several days in northern Michigan during July, it includes fishing, boating, campfires, exploring a favorite beach or maybe an off-road vehicle trail.
A group of 19 individuals – who hope to one day become a conservation officer – did just that, but as part of a weeklong job interview with a structured twist.
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hosted its first Conservation Officer Cadet Academy, a free career exploration opportunity, July 6-11 at the DNR’s Ralph A. MacMullan Center in Roscommon.
“The purpose of the CO Cadet Academy is to give cadets a weeklong glimpse into what our traditional training academy looks like,” said Conservation Officer Brad Bellville, who helped organize the Cadet Academy. “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are too young to start the CO hiring process. By the end of the week, they should know if this is the correct career choice for them.” Read more |
Few people are aware of just how important the tongue is to a woodpecker, but researchers have found that woodpeckers rely on their extraordinary tongue to thread into insect tunnels their beak can’t reach. A typical woodpecker tongue is long and flexible enough to reach into crevices and tunnels to reach prey hidden deep inside. Clearly, drilling into wood with its beak is just the first step for a woodpecker to procuring food in bark, branches, trunks, and even beneath the ground. Two pairs of muscles guide the tongue, allowing it to move in and out, and in multiple directions when probing.
A woodpeckers’ tongue is among the longest tongues relative to body size among all bird families, and woodpeckers use their tongue with remarkable precision. When not extended, the base of the tongue wraps around the back of the skull, and in some woodpecker species, the tongue stretches all the way around the skull to the position of the right nostril.
Specialized sticky saliva on the tongue attaches to insects, larvae, or other foods on contact to procure food that might otherwise escape. The tongue tip may also have bristles or backward-facing barbs that hook insects as the tongue pulls them out of a crevice. Woodpeckers’ tongues have specialized keratin tips that naturally regenerate as they become worn.
Woodpeckers are among the most diverse and interesting families of birds, numbering more than 200 different species found on 5 continents. There is so much more to learn about their fascinating adaptations, so if woodpeckers interest you, refer to the Bird Academy at the Wonderful World of Woodpeckers to look into their online woodpecker course, which is reduced in price now. Read more